Participants should be fluent in both written and spoken English. Applicants from countries where English is not the language of instruction need to have obtained a score of at least 550 on the TOEFL test (or a score of at least 213 on a computer TOEFL test) or provide proof of an equivalent test or provide proof that part of their education was in English. Or equal knowledge of German.

Academic requirements

Master or diploma in physics, chemistry or materials sciences

Max available positions

1

Information

Chalcopyrite-based solar modules are unique in combining the advantages of thin-film technology with the efficiency and stability of conventional crystalline silicon cells. It is therefore believed that chalcopyrite based modules can take up a large part of the PV market growth once true mass production is started. Scientifically, recent results suggest that chalcopyrites have truly unique properties not found in classical semiconductors. Success in the field of photovoltaics strongly relies on the ability to understand, prepare and engineer semiconductor interfaces. A wide variety of characterisation tools are used for this purpose and some of them use x-ray based spectroscopies. We have developed a specially designed end-station at the BESSY synchrotron in Berlin to perform XPS/PES and XES analysis. The end station allows chemical treatments and sputter deposition to be performed in-situ and is used for the analysis of model systems and industrially relevant materials.